"This is anti-art": Internet pokes fun at David Zaslav for reportedly focusing on big-IP movies at Warner Bros

David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, is once again making headlines and not the kind he’d put on a movie poster. According to reports, he wants to steer the studio away from filmmaker-driven projects and instead double down on big intellectual property (IP) movies. You know, the kind of stuff that sells action figures before they even cast a lead actor.

This shift reportedly goes against the vision of Warner Bros. film chiefs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who have been championing director-led films. The internet, of course, had thoughts. And by thoughts, we mean an avalanche of memes, jokes, and outright despair. Because if there’s one thing Twitter loves more than cinema, it’s roasting executives who mess with cinema.

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David Zaslav’s Big-IP Movie Push Sparks Viral Backlash

As soon as the report surfaced, film fans wasted no time clowning on the decision by David Zaslav. The idea of prioritizing franchise behemoths over original storytelling didn’t exactly inspire applause. Instead, social media exploded with reactions that ranged from sarcastic jabs to outright doomposting about the future of Warner Bros.

One user summed up the general sentiment with:

“This is anti-art.”

Short. Brutal. Straight to the point. If there’s a phrase that perfectly captures film lovers’ frustration in 2025, this might be it.

Another compared David Zaslav’s approach to a fictional, out-of-touch executive from a viral short film:

“He’s literally just Bryan Cranston in The Studio.”

If you haven’t seen The Studio, just picture a soulless Hollywood suit making all the wrong decisions with absolute confidence. Sound familiar?

Of course, no film discourse is complete without someone calling Hollywood’s latest move “slop.” And sure enough, one user chimed in:

“More slop.”

For those unfamiliar with online slang, “slop” is the affectionate (or not-so-affectionate) term for mass-produced, uninspired content studios churn out to keep IP alive. Think endless superhero sequels, live-action remakes, and movies that exist purely to set up another movie.

Another user took a more existential approach:

“My guy pretending there will be a WB for much longer.”

Given Warner Bros.’ recent financial woes and controversial decisions (see: Batgirl’s cancellation), it’s not a totally unfounded worry. If the studio keeps making the wrong bets, some fear it might not be around to make any bets at all.

Then there was the classic “bad business” roast:

“Why lose a little money when you can lose a lot of money? 😂”

A business philosophy no MBA course would ever recommend, yet somehow, Hollywood seems to follow it religiously.

And, of course, no viral moment is complete without a joke about someone’s fashion choices. One eagle-eyed commenter pointed out David Zaslav’s… unconventional buttoning habits:

“Dude needs to use the top button for its purpose.”

Apparently, poor financial decisions aren’t the only thing being left undone at Warner Bros.

David Zaslav’s reported focus on franchise films over director-led projects is a move that has left film fans unimpressed, to say the least. While blockbuster IPs are a moneymaker (when done right), ignoring fresh, original storytelling in favor of factory-made content isn’t exactly a recipe for cinematic greatness.

Whether Warner Bros. flourishes or flops under this strategy remains to be seen. But if internet reactions are any indication, the general audience isn’t thrilled about it. For now, all we can do is grab our popcorn, refresh our feeds, and enjoy the show because Hollywood drama is often more entertaining than the movies themselves.